Plug-bar mechanism for piercing mills



Nov. 1, 1927.

J. J. HARKINS PLUG BAR MECHANISM FOR PIERCING MILLS I Filed July 3, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR In w a Nov. 1, 1927. 1,647,693

I J. J. HARKINS PLUG BAR MECHANISM FOR PIERGING MILLS Filed July 5, 19242 Sheets-Sheet 2 n nnuun.

Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JAMES J. HARKINS, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH T0OTTO EORMAN, 0F SANDY LAKE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PLUG-BAR MECHANISM FOR. II ERGING MILLS.

Application filed July 3,

i This invention. relates to an improvement in plug bar mechanismusedinseamless tube making processes, the invention being particularly adaptedfor cooperation with a piercing mill ofany usual or preferred yp a Theinvention is particularly designed for use in connection with acontinuous seamless tube rolling mill of the type shown inmy jointco-pending application with O. F. Or-

man, Serial No. 341,931, filed December 2,

In the operation of forming seamless tubes, a billet is passed throughpiercing rolls over a ball or plug carried on the free end of a long baror rod whose opposite end is supported against endwise movement, thatis, against the thrust of the oncoming shell, ina thrust bearingdesigned to allow the plug bar torotate with the rotative movement ofthe shell imparted to it by the action of the piercing mill. I

Heretofore it has been the common prac tice to withdraw the plug barfrom the pierced shell after the piercing operation is completed.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide plug barmechanism adapted to support the plug bar and. receive the pierced shellat the front end thereof in the usual manner, but which may be operatedto enable the shell to be'passed off the opposite end of the plug bar,through the thrust bearing without removing the plug bar from operativeposition, so that ingots may be pierced in rapid succession, a featureparticularly valuable where continuous rolling is sought, as describedin the above noted application. but not necessarily confined to use incontinuous mills.

Further important objects are to provide. in combination with the thrustbearing mechanism per se a receiving and pushing mechanism forsimultaneous cooperation therewith. These and other objects andadvantages are attained by my invention, which may be readily understoodby reference to the accompanying drawings, in

which: I j r Fig. 1 is a plan view of the thrust bearing mechanismassembly, without the auxiliary pusher mechanism;

4 Fig. is a longitudinal section-through 1924. Serial No. 724,024.

the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, showingthe auxiliary pushing mechanism;

Fig. 3' is a transverse section in the plane of line IIIIII of Fig. 1 Ib Fig. 4 is a similar section in the plane, of line IV-IV of 'Figj 1,showing the plug bar engaging means in closed. position;

Fig.5 isa similar view showingthe plug barengaging means open position;I Fig. 6 is a detail view ofthejaw controlling and operating means;

Fig. 7 is a section in the plane of line VIIVII of- Fig. 6; and I Fig.8- is a section in the plane of line VIIIVIII of Fig. 1.

The invention is designed for use in connection with a piercing mill ofany commercial or preferred type, and this, therefore, has not beenshown in the drawings.

In the drawings, X designates a' suitable foundation on which a basemember is mounted, this base member having platforms 6, 7 and 8 steppedone below the other re spectively. I

Slidably mounted on platform 6 is a jawcarrying head or frame 9, towhich piston rod 10 connects, the piston rod entering a hydraulic or.pneumatic cylinder 11 on the lowermost platform 8. By suitable controlof this cylinder, control means not being shown but being of the usualtype, the head 9 may be reciprocated toward and away from the forwardend of the base, the head being shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in its foremostposition.

011 the extreme forward end of the base is a stand 12 having a recess 13therein in which sets a slidable wedge 14 cooperating With an inclinedsurface 15 on the under 7 side of a saddle shaped member 15 in whichconnect shafts 21 and 21 lVhen piston rod 27 is moved downwardly, itbeing shown in its uppermost position, shafts 21 and 21 are rocked inopposite directions, thereby opening jaws and 25. The jaws are closedupon reverse movement of the piston rod 27.

ltiounted on piston rod 10 is an arm which carries hood 38 and guidesupport 34 which obviously will move with the head 9. Arched over thecylinder 11 and secured to the base 5 is'a support 35 having atransverse channel 36 at the top thereof, in which is a fixed lowerwedge 37 and a transversely movable wedge 88. On the upper wedge restsa. depending rib of a block 39, to which are secured the guide strips16. The strips are sloped downwardly toward each other to form a trough.

Block 39 forms part of a supporting frame 40 whose other end issimilarly supported at two other points on wedge blocks ll4e2 similar to537 538 in the base member 1-3. The upper wedge blocks may be shiftedtransversely to raise or lower the frame through screws 44.

The frame 40 carries troughed feed rollers 4-5 and troughed guidesections 46. The feed rollers are all driven through miter gears from alongitudinal shaft t? which is in turn driven through reduction gearing4:8 by motor 49, which motor is pivot-ally carried on shaft 50, so thatit may maintain a driving relation with the gearing upon adjust ment ofthe frame a: to difierent heights. The adjustment of the frame 40 todifferent heights enables the diameter of theshells to be varied.

Supported above the frame 40 with its associated rolls, on standards 51and brace members 52 is a pusher frame comprising longitudinallyextending spaced apart angle bars 53 having toothed racks 59 secured tothe top thereof. Suspended from the frame is an arched heat retainingcover 55 having a longitudinal slot along its top. A carriage or trolleycomprising frame 56 is mounted on the angle bars, this frame carrying atransverse shaft 57 on which are driving gears 58 for engagement withthe racks. Mounted in a plane below 58 are rollers 58 for engagementwith the under surfaces of the llOllZODljtl] flanges of the ca'ried inguides on the top of head.

menses bars to hold the trolley against vertical movement on the track.At 60 are other guide rollers.

A reversiblemotor 61 with gearing is mounted on the carriage to drivepinions 58 to propel the carriage back and forth. Extending across theinterior of the carriage frame is a transverse fixed bar 62. Pivotallyhung from a cross shaft 63 is a pusher arm 6% having a curved shellengaging portion at its lower end. The upper end of the lever is adaptedto contact with bar 62. By this arrangement, the pusher arm is free toswing in the direction of an oncoming shell so as to move out of its wayWhen, however, the pusher is moved against the rear end of a shell topush the shell in the direction of its travel, through thethrust-bearing hereinafter described, rod 62 will form a positive stopto hold the lever against swinging in the direction the push is to beexertec.

Immediately at the end of the receiving table is the thrust bearing forrotatably holding the plug bar and which is so constructed that the plugbar holding means may be released and the pierced shell be passedlongitudinally off the bar at the end opposite the plugor ball end.

The thrust bearing includes a supporting pedestal 65, havingsemi-circular part 66 and semi-circular cap 67 fitting thereon, the cappreferably having an oil box 68 formed on the top thereof. Threadedwithin the circular opening formed within part and cap. 6'? is anadjusting sleeve 69 having hand wheel 70 formed integrally with its rearend, by means of which the sleeve may be turned, a locking sleeve or nutbeing pro vided at 71. The interior of the adjusting sleeve 6.) isprovided with a series of iriternal ribs and grooves 72, in which are interiitted similar ribs and grooves 73 on the exterior of a hollow slipgear sleeve 7%,

The outer end of sleeve 74 is flanged, and surroiniding the periphery ofthe flange is an externally toothed slip ring 75 having internal pockets76 formed therein, in advance of the annular toothed portion thereof. At76 are ball bearings which, with the inter fitting ribs and grooves,take up the endwise thrust between parts. Slidably supported by thesleeve Tl are clamping aws T7 adapted to be actuated by pivoted levers78 pivoted at T9, and having inner ends'which'are re-' ceived in pocketsin the jaws. T ie other Fad ends of levers 78 extend into pockets 7 6.By

rotating of the slip gear ring 75 relatively to sleeve 74', while thelatter is held stationary, the jaws may be opened or closed, dependingupon the direotion of rotation of ring 7 5, the pockets transmittingactuatingmovement to the jaws through the pivoted levers.

For permitting the ring to rotate with the ciprocable travel.

7 round opening.

sleeve or independently thereof, I have derod 81, the outer end of thisrod being bifurcated, as shown in Fig. 6. The cylinder is carried onbracket 83 on the pedestal 65.

Carried between the two arms of the bifurcated end of the rod is apinion 84 rotatably mounted on two non-rotatable sleeves 85 and 86 onesleeve being carried by one. arm of the bifurcated: end and one sleeveby the other arm. Sleeve 85 has a square opening therethrough, andsleeve 86 has a Interposed between thet'wo sleeves is a series ofsegmental blocks 87, the outer ends of which extend into an} annulargroove in the gear wheel 84:. The periphery of the series of blocks andthe groove may be very slightly eccentric.

Passing through the sleeves is a central pin 88 having a rounded part insleeve 86, and a squared tapered part 88 passing through the othersleeve 85 and through the opening formed at the centerof the seriesofsegments. The length of pin 88 is greater than the combined width of thebifurcated end of the rod, including the stationary arched member 89,through the downwardly turned arms of which the sleeves extend.

The taper of the squared part of the pin is toward the center.

Extending from the top of tliecylinder is a rigid frame member 90 havingdownwardly turned flanges to which are formed oppositely extendinghorizontal slots 91 and 92 ternnn'ating at their inner overlapping endsin oppositely inclined cam surfaces 93 and 94, respectively.

The ends of the operating levers 78 are permanently received in thepockets 76 and they never ride out of these pockets. The relativerotation between the outer ring 75 and the inner sleeve which supportsthe operating levers 78 is only such movement as may be imparted to thering 75 by the reciprocation of the pinion 84 from its retracted to itsextended position. This is controlled by the movement of the piston inthe cylinder 80 which is a relatively short cyan; der. In Figure 5, theclosing of the jaws will be effected by the projection of the pinion 84to the position shown in'Figure 4. As the pinion is projected, it isheld against rotation, whereuponit tends to rotate the ring 75 adistance corresponding to its re- Whenthe ring 75 moves in thisdirection, the pockets in the ring, of course, also move. Since the endsof the levers 78 are permanently retained in these pockets, they arerocked to the position shown in Figure 4:. j V

Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 6, the projectingend of pin 88 being in groove 91, this is the normal op eratingposition, and the gear ring is rotated with the sleeve throughtherotation of the plug bar. so that it is driven by the gear ring. Now, ifthe piercing operation has been completed, and it is necessary to openjaws 77, the piston'rod is actuated through the cylinder to'moverod81to'retracted position, that is, move it in the direction of the arrowin Fig. 6. Cam surface 91 will force pin 88 transversely until the otherend of the pin projects into slot 92. As it moves in this,mannensegmenta'l blocks 87 are forced outwardly intonon-slippingengagement with the recess in the pinion, this recess preferably being slightly eccentric, holding the pinion f'romrot'ation. Then,as rod 81 continues to move, the non-rotatablepinion moving with the armwill partially rotate the gear ring to open'the jaws. v

l/Vh'en' it is desired to close thejaws, the action is just reversedthroughout, returning the parts to the position shown-in Fig. 6.

The operation of the entire machine may now be followed; The ingotpassing through the piercing mill is rotated and" elongated. Passingover the ball or plug B on-the end of bar A, the ingot is pierced toform the shell. During the time the ingot is being pierced, the thrustbearing allows the plug bar and jaws 77 to rotate at the same time thatit assumes the end thrust on the bar. With the aidof the power driventroughed feed rollers 45', the shell is advanced until itscomp'leted'length is onthe plug bar and its front end immediately adjacent the aws77 of the thrust bearing.

7 By means of cylinder 28, the jaws 25 and 25 may be moved into clampingengagenient with the forward end of the plug bar and so held. Jaws 77 ofthe thrust bearing are'then opened in the manner hereinbefore described,the gear ring being rotated relatively to the gear ring sleeve.

When the jaws 77 are opened, the shell, with the aid of power drivenrollers 45, and, if necessary, the overhead pusher including the motordriven trolley, may be passed through the hollow thrust bearing, thejaws 25'25 holding the pliig bar. the same time, or after the shellhasbeen passed off The'p'inion 84: is rotatable,

the plug b'ar through the thrust bearing, the

many of the time consuming operations inherent in present methods, andto greatly facilitate and expedite the piercing and manipulation ofpierced shells, and that the apparatus is especially useful inconnection with a continuous tube mill.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the structure of themechanism shown within the contemplation of my invention and under tilescope of the appended claims.

I I claim my invention:

1. A thrust bearing for supporting a plug bar comprising a supportingstructure, a plug bar engaging means rotatably carried on the supportingstructure, said means bf ing movable out of plug bar engaging posi tionwhereby shell may be passed oi? the plug bar through the thrust bearing2. A thrust bearing for supporting a plug bar including a supportingstructure, a hollow jaw carrying member rotatably mounted in thesupporting structure, and movable jaws on said carrying member, saidjaws being movable into and out of plug bar engaging position to permitof the passage of shells through the hollow jaw carrying member.

8. A thrust bearing for supporting a plug bar including a supportingstructure, a hollow jaw carrying member rotatably mounted in-thesupporting structure, movable jaws on said carrying member, said jawsbeing movable into and out of plug bar engaging position to permit ofthe passage of shells through the hollow jaw carrying member, and meansfor operating the jaws.

i. A thrust bearing for supporting a plug bar including a supportinstructure, a hollow jaw carrying member rotatably mounted in thesupporting structure, movable on said carrying member, said jaws beingmovable into and out of plug bar engaging position to permit of thepassage of shells through the hollow jaw carrying member, and powerdriven means for operating the aws. V

A thrust bearing comprising a supportii a; structure, a rotatable sleevecarried in said i carried by the sleeve, a gear ring rotatably liounte'don said sleeve, means connecting the gear ring and jaws for moving thelatter upon rotation of the torr er relatively to the sleeve, and means'for effecting the relative rotation 01" the ring.

6. A thrust bearing comprising a suppor ing structure, a rotatablesleeve carried in said structure, transversely movable jaws carried'bythe sleeve, a gear ring rotatably mounted on said sleeve, meansconnecting the gear ring and aws for moving the latter ipon rotation ofthe former relatively to the sleeve, means for effecting the relativerotation of the ring, including a pinion in structure, transverselymovable jaws mesh with the gear wheel, means {or reciprocating thepinion, and means for locking the pinion agaist rotation whenreciprocated in one direction and releasing it when it is moved in theopposite direction. 7

7. A thrust bearing comprising a support ing structure, a rotatablesleeve carried in said structure, transversely movable jaws carried bythe sleeve, :1 gear ring rotatably mounted on said sleeve, meansconnecting the gear ring and jaws for moving the latter upon rotation ofthe former relatively to the sleeve, and means including a reciprocabletoothed member and operating means therefor for effecting the movementof thegear ring relatively to the sleeve.

8. A thrust bearing comprising a supportinp; structure, a rotatablesleeve carried in said structure, transversely movable jaws carried bythe sleeve, means providing a bearing for the. sleeve, said bearingmeans being longitudinally adjustable, a gear ring rotatably mounted onsaid sleeve, means connecting the gear ring and jaws for moving thelatter upon rotation of the former relatively to the sleeve, and meansfor effecting the relative rotation of the ring.

9. The combination with a rotatable thrust bearing for supporting a plugbar,said beau ing having jaws movable into and out of operative positionto permit of the passage of shells through the bearing, of meansdisposed in advance thereof including a support, plug bar engaging jawson the support, and means for operating said second jaws, the secondjaws enabling the plug bar to be supported when the thrust bearing awsare opened.

10. The combination with a rotatable thrust bearing designed to permitof the patsage of shells therethrough, and having plug bar engaging jawsthereon movable in to and out of plug bar engaging position, of a plugbar, and a supporting structure having plug bar engaging jaws tor engagement with the forward portion of said plug bar, said jaws being movableinto and out of bar engaging position, whereby the front end ot-the barmay be held when the j aws'of the thrust'bearing at the rear end of thebar is released. V

i 11'. The combination with a rotatable thrust bearing designed topermit of the pas bar engaging jaws thereon movable into and out of plugbar engagingpositions, of a plug bar, and a supporting structure havingplug bar engaging aws for engagement with the forward portion of saidplug bar, said jaws being movable into and out of bar engaging position,and power driven operating means for said second named jaws, whereby thefront end of the bar may be heldwhen the jaws of the thrust bearingatthe rear end of the bar is released, I r

sage of shells therethrough, and having plug 12. The combination with arotatable thrust bearing designed to permit of the passage of shellstherethrough, and having plug bar engaging aws thereon movable into andout of plug bar engaging positions, of a plug bar, and means forreleasably supporting the forward end of the bar, whereby the bar may besupported when the jaws of the thrust bearing are released.

13. The combination with a thrust bearing designed to permit of thepassage of shells therethrough, and having plug bar en-' gaging jawsthereon movable into and out of plug bar engaging positions, of a plugbar, and means for releasably supporting the forward end of the bar,whereby the bar may be supported when the jaws of'the thrust bearing arereleased, said supporting means being reciprocable longitudinally of theplug bar, and means for effecting such reciprocation.

14. The combination with a thrust bearing designed to permit of thepassage of shells therethrough, and having plug bar engaging jawsthereon movable into and out of plug bar engaging positions, of a plugbar, and a supporting structure having plug bar engaging jaws forengagement with the forward portion of said plug bar, said jaws beinmovable into and out of bar en a in t) b b b position, means foroperating the second jaws, whereby the front end of the bar may be heldwhen the jaws of the thrust bearing are open, and means for effectinglongitudinal reciprocation of the said second jaws to reciprocate theplug bar.

15. The combination with a rotatable thrust bearing for use inconnection with piercing mills for supporting the rear end of a plugbar, said thrust bearing being designed to permit of the passage ofpierced shells therethrough and having jaws movable into and out of plugbar engaging posi tion, of a plug bar, means near the forward end of theplug bar for releasably holding it, and a receiving table interposedbetween the front plug bar engaging means and the thrust bearing.

16. The combination with a rotatable thrust bearing for use inconnection with piercing mills for supporting the rear end of a plugbar, said thrust bearing being designed to permit of the passage ofpierced shells therethrough and having aws movable into and out of plugbar engaging position, of a plug bar, means near the forward end of theplug bar for releasably holding it, and a receiving table interposedbetween the front plug bar engaging means and the thrust bearing, saidreceiving table having power driven feed rolls associated therewith toassist in moving a shell along the plug bar toward and through thethrust bearing.

17. The combination with a thrust bearing for use in connection withpiercing mills for supporting the rear end of a plug bar, said thrustbearing being designed to permit of the passage of pierced shellstherethrough and having jaws movable into and out of plug bar engagingposition, of a plug bar, means near the forward end of the plug bar forreleasably holding it, and a receiving table interposed bet-ween thefront plug bar engaging means and the thrust bearing, said receivingtable having a trolley associated therewith movable therealong, andwhich carries a pusher for engaging the ends of the shells and pushingthem in the direction of their travel.

18. The combination with a thrust bearing for use in connection withpiercing mills for supporting the rear end of a plug bar,

said thrust bearing being designed to permit of the passage of piercedshells therethrough and having jaws movable into and out of plug barengaging position, of a plug bar, means near the forward end of the plugbar for releasably holding it, a receiving table interposed between thefront plug bar engaging means and the thrust bearing, said receivingtable having power driven feed rolls thereon for engaging the shells,and a reciprocable pusher mechanism associated with the receiving table.

19. The combination with a thrust bearing for use in connection withpiercing mills for supporting the rear end of a plug bar, said thrustbearing being designed to permit of the passage of pierced shellstherethrough and having jaws movable into and out of plug bar engagingposition, of a plug bar, means near the forward end of the plug bar forreleasably holding it, and a receiving table interposed between thefront plug bar engaging means and the thrust bearing,

said receiving table having a shell receiving guideway, said guidewaybeing adjustable vertically for accommodation of shells of differentdiameters.

20. The combination with a thrust bearing for use in connection withpiercing mills for supporting the rear end of a plug bar, said thrustbearing being designed to permit of the passage of pierced shellstherethrough and having jaws movable into and out of plug bar engagingposition, of a plug bar, a support disposed near the frontend of theplug bar, means for reciprocating said support longitudinally of theplug bar, jaws on said support movable into and out of plug bar clampingposition, means for op-. erating the jaws, a receiving table interposedbetween the front support and thrust bearing, said receiving tablehaving power driven shell feeding mechanism thereon, and guide means onthe table extending in advance of the table and slidably supported onsaid r-eciprocable jaw carrying supports.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JAMES J. HARKINS.

